Leopoldine let out a low chuckle, her eyes glittering with sadistic pleasure as she watched Esato's struggle to remain calm.

"Oh, my dear Esato, always so emotional, always so impulsive. It's very amusing to watch you get so worked up, but a little restraint would be much appreciated, yes? After all, I'm just having a little fun here. No need to get so...huffy~"

Esato felt her anger flare again at Leopoldine's mocking tone, but she forced it down, focusing on keeping her breathing steady.

Noelle stepped forward, her voice cold and calm. "Enough with the games, Leopoldine. We need to get that damn device away from you."

Leopoldine just smirked, idly tapping on the Connexus again. "Oh, I don't think you'll be doing that anytime soon, dear. I'm not done with my little demonstration yet.”

Esato clenched her fists, her nails digging into her palms. It was taking every ounce of her will power not to pounce on Leopoldine and claw that smirk off her face. But she held herself back, knowing that the situation called for a more strategic approach.

Noelle, seeing the strain on her friend's face, placed a calming hand on her arm. "Esato, breathe," she commanded softly. "We need to think this through clearly.”

Esato took a shuddering breath, her body still rigid with anger but her mind slowly coming back into focus.

Leopoldine, of course, couldn't resist rubbing salt in the wound. "Oh dear, Esato. You look like you're about to explode. Try to rein in those fiery dragon instincts, won't you~?”

Esato's eyes flashed with unbridled rage, her nostrils flaring. But she held her tongue, knowing that Leopoldine only wanted a reaction out of her. Instead, she turned her gaze to Noelle, silently pleading for guidance.

Noelle returned her gaze, understanding the plea for help. She took a step forward, addressing Leopoldine directly. "This has gone on long enough, Leopoldine. Give us the Connexus, and we can end this."

Leopoldine's smirk grew wider, her eyes glittering with sadistic enjoyment. "Oh, I don't think so, sweetling. Like I said before, I'm not done yet.”

She tapped the Connexus again and Alice's body jerked, a strangled moan escaping her lips. The group watched in horror as the intensity of the sensations seemed to increase, Alice's body now trembling uncontrollably.

Esato let out another low growl, her entire being trembling with the effort of keeping herself in check.

Noelle, however, kept her expression neutral as she studied the Connexus. "What exactly are you trying to do, Leopoldine? What is the point of all this?”

Leopoldine chuckled, her eyes not leaving Alice's trembling form. "Just having a little fun, darling. And oh, what fun it is! Watching the lovely Alice here lose herself to these...intoxicating feelings~”

Esato's fangs bared in a snarl, her control starting to slip.

Noelle, sensing the impending snap, moved quickly, placing herself between Esato and Leopoldine. "Esato, focus," she said firmly, her eyes locked on her friend's face. "We need to stay calm, remember? Attacking now won't help Alice.”

Esato gritted her teeth, her entire body tense. She knew Noelle was right, but the urge to rip Leopoldine apart was almost overwhelming.

Leopoldine's smirk widened, her tone mocking. "Oh, look at you. So valiant, trying so hard to hold back. Do you really love poor little Alice that much? You've only known her for about an hour and a half, why so protective over her, hmm~?”

Esato's eyes flashed with anger, the words hitting a nerve. Her draconic protective instincts, fueled by the bond of friendship she felt for Alice, flared up, making her want to lash out at Leopoldine. But she held herself back, though her body was rigid with the effort.

Noelle, sensing the rising tension, moved to stand between Esato and Leopoldine again. "Back off, Leopoldine. You don't get to question the bonds between people. Especially when you're the one torturing Alice.”

Leopoldine just chuckled, her eyes gleaming with malicious amusement. "Oh, but I can and I will, darling. You see, I relish in these little tidbits of information. So tell me, why is the fierce dragon girl so protective over little Alice here? Is it just general concern for a new friend, or is there something more~?”

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Esato's body tensed, the question hitting closer to home than she cared to admit. Leopoldine was poking at something deep within her, stirring up feelings she herself was still trying to understand. Unable to restrain her rage any further, her cheeks puffed before she breathed fire at Leopoldine.

Leopoldine, not expecting the sudden burst of fire, recoiled, a hint of genuine surprise flashing across her face. The others looked on in shocked astonishment, the atmosphere of the room shifting instantly.

Noelle, however, was the first to recover. She took a step closer to Esato, her voice a mix of sympathy and firmness. "Esato, you need to calm down. This isn't going to help anyone.”

Esato's breath was ragged, her anger still boiling just beneath the surface. Leopoldine's earlier words, coupled with her smug expression, were fueling Esato's fire. But as she met Noelle's gaze, some of the wild rage subsided.

With a herculean effort, Esato closed her eyes, drawing in three deep, shuddering breaths. She was still shaking with fury, but she was making a valiant attempt to regain her composure.

Leopoldine, recovering from the shock of the flames, smirked. "Oh my! You really are a little spitfire, both figuratively and literally, aren't you, Esato? So easy to rile up~"

Noelle shot Leopoldine a sharp look, her patience running thin. "Can it, Leopoldine. Your mockery is not helping the situation.”

Leopoldine let out a mock sigh, her expression one of exaggerated sadness. "Oh, but Noelle, where's the fun in that? I'm just trying to keep things interesting~"

She then took the incapacitated, moaning Alice by her arm, slowly striding forward with her back turned to the others. "And now, I'd say it's time we bid each other farewell, for I have some fun I wish to indulge in~”

Esato let out another low, menacing growl, her eyes fixated on Leopoldine. The urge to pounce, to stop Leopoldine dead in her tracks was overwhelming. Only Noelle's presence, her soothing yet firm grip on Esato's arm, kept her grounded.

Noelle, her voice a calm steady in the chaos, addressed Leopoldine. "Let her go, Leopoldine. You've had your twisted brand of fun. Let's resolve this peacefully.”

Leopoldine let out a scoff, her grip on Alice tightening. "Peacefully? My darling, where's the pleasure in that?"

Noelle's eyes flashed with irritation, but she held her ground. "You're not getting past us, Leopoldine. Let Alice go, give us the Connexus, and go on your own way.”

Leopoldine's smirk widened, her gaze drifting over the group. "Oh, you're quite the defiant bunch, aren't you? It's rather amusing, I must admit."

Her gaze returned to Esato, her smirk turning into a cruel smile. "And just what are you going to do, little dragon girl? You look like you're ready to pounce, but your sensible friend is holding you back. How pitiful~”

Esato bristled under Leopoldine's gaze. The insult cut deep, and the urge to prove Leopoldine wrong was almost overwhelming. But Noelle's grip on her arm tightened, grounding her once again.

Noelle, speaking with a calm authority, responded to Leopoldine. "Esato is more than capable of defending herself and her friends. But she's also smart enough to know when restraint is necessary. Unlike you, Leopoldine.”

Esato's body was still shaking, her eyes locked onto Leopoldine. The urge to pounce had not abated even slightly. But Noelle's voice, her hand pressing on Esato's arm, was the only thing keeping Esato from launching herself at Leopoldine.

Noelle's gaze was steely, her voice calm but firm. "Leopoldine, if you take one more step, we will have no choice but to stop you by force.”

Leopoldine just chuckled, her gaze mocking. "Oh, sweetling, are you threatening me? How very bold."

Noelle's expression remained resolute, every muscle in her body tense. "Consider it a warning, Leopoldine. We don't want it to come to violence, but we will act if provoked.”

Leopoldine just smirked, her gaze shifting from Noelle to Esato and back again, noticing their intense focus on her every move.

"Oh my, it seems like the two of you have bonded quite strongly in such a short amount of time. Protecting little Alice seems to have brought you closer together, hasn't it? How...adorable~”

Esato's patience snapped. This woman's cruel mockery was unbearable, especially with Alice's suffering the way it was. She tried to lunge, only to be yanked backwards by Noelle's grip on her arm.

Noelle, her voice sharp, scolded Esato. "Esato, hold yourself together! We can't make a rash move now!”

Esato tried to calm herself, but the rage within her was flaring up again. Leopoldine, noticing Esato's internal struggle, mocked further. "Oh, look at that. The beast inside the dragon girl is desperate to come out and play, but alas, her sensible friend is keeping her on a leash. How terribly sad for you, little beastie~”

Esato's temper flared, her eyes narrowing in anger. It was taking everything she had to hold back, to not launch at Leopoldine and tear the smirk off her face.

Noelle, still holding onto Esato firmly, her tone serious. "Esato, don't listen to her. She's baiting you. Breathe, control yourself.”

Esato scowled, her fury taking over as she breathed fire at Leopoldine again, the flames shooting out like a flamethrower aimed straight at Leopoldine.

Leopoldine barely had time to react, the sudden blast of fire nearly catching her off guard. In a quick dodge, she managed to avoid the worst of it, but the flames still grazed her arm, causing her to let out a cry of pain.

Noelle's eyes widened in surprise and shock. She hadn't expected Esato to make such a rash move, but she quickly composed herself and called out to Esato. "What are you thinking? You could have hit Alice too!”

Esato was beyond listening, her rage was at its breaking point. All that existed in her world was Leopoldine, her mocking laughter, the sight of Alice in pain. And Esato was at the end of her rope.

With a mighty roar, she lunged forward, aiming at Leopoldine.